Thanks to everyone who posted comments yesterday with your suggestions for stories to monitor this spring. I can't promise I'll be able to meet every single request — I'd need at least three clones down in Viera with me to pull that off — but I'll certainly do my best to address as many of the suggested storylines as possible.

One request several readers had (and something I'd been planning to do anyway) was to post a fan's guide to spring training and Viera. There are plenty of angles to cover on this, so I figured I'd break it up into two parts. Today, we'll look at what you should know about Space Coast Stadium and the adjacent minor-league complex. Tomorrow, I'll tell you what you should know about the town away from the facility.

Viera gets disparaged a lot, and not without merit. It's probably the most-remote outpost in the Grapefruit League, with no other facility within 55 miles. A still-unincorporated, planned community along Interstate 95, it's lacking in charm but doesn't lack strip malls or chain restaurants.

That said, there may not be a better site in Florida to watch spring training up close. I've been to nearly every facility in the state over the years, and the only one I can remember offering more fan accessRead more »

Thanks, NatsJack. Knew I could count on you to know specific details.If you (or anyone else who's been to Viera before) has suggestions or recommendations or insights on topics I didn't cover, please feel free to include them here. Try to stick to the baseball side of things today, though. We'll get to hotels, dining, etc., tomorrow.

One thing about the stadium – bring sunscreen!! My winter pale skin did not like the Florida sunshine of a 1pm game. And we also went to a night game (maybe 7pm?) and it got quite chilly when the sun went down.

I've got little kids (ranging from 5 – and have a couple of things:- there isn't a playground but you can go in and out of the stadium during games. there's a couple of great slopes that the kids can roll down – just check for the ant hills!- the picnic area outside of left field looked like a great place to go – unfortunately, it was booked for a private party on our game day – probably worth calling in advance to see if it's open if that's of value to you.- the Nats bullpen is just past the right baseline stands. the pitchers and catchers hang out there before/during a game and the players walk from the practice facility to the dugout right underneath there – was a great place to be before the game with Dunn asking how my 6 year old was and throwing him a ball.Natslifer

Nice! I'm getting excited just reading this. I am making my annual trek to ST March 13th. Just like Mark says, Space Coast is great for fan interaction and the players are usually very accomodating for autographs and pictures. Annon 10:51 – I like to get there at 9 am and you can usually catch the pitchers in the practice field just to the side of the front of the stadium. Get there early and once you get inside the stadium there is an autograph well on first and third base sides and players from both teams are typically very good with signing. You can also catch the players when they leave if you go to the Nats side where the batting cages are. Last year I got great pictures of Strasburg in the bullpen doing a simulated game and on the field before a game. Space Coast is great for up close and personal interaction with the players.

I thought last year the stadium opened at 11:30 for a 1 pm game. Most other venues open two hours before game time. And you have to have a full season ticket plan to get in early. Autograph opportunites are abundant, you don't even need to go into the stadium early, many players work on the side field behind the stadium hours before the park opens. Also the visitors bus pulls up about 10 am and sometimes you can get autographs from players on other teams as they go into the stadium. All the Nats are accessible and accomodating. Worst spring venue IMO is the Braves Disney. Its more Disney than baseball.

Went to Space Coast a few years ago. There's about a 75% chance I will get there this year.We sat in those great seats behind the plate next to the scouts. But I have to say, IMO, there is no need to pay top price because it is a very cozy place. All of the seats are pretty close up and comfortable. The sky down there is a very azure blue. It has a certain quality that makes fly balls almost invisible. You will see veteran outfielders just staggering around and they will quite often lose the ball in the sun, the sky, the clouds and the wind. Lots of raised arms and that where the heck is it looks. Also lots of wind blown line drive home runs. Makes a lot of guys look like MM. Definetly take the sunscreen,a hat,sunglasses,shorts, t-shirt—also a sweater and a jacket because you never know what you're are going to get. Be prepared for very hot or very cold. And you wont know which leaving the hotel.I went to ST in Ryan Zimmerman's rookie season. I got his autograph after the game. There is room behind and to the sides of the Nats dugout on the right field line where players sign autographs after the game. They seemed to be assigned turns for that kind of duty so you never know who is going to have to stand there and be nice to the fans. My luck it was Zimmerman's turn. As a kid he was fine with it. I also approached Jose Vidro. He had the duty but he was pretty grouchy about it. But there a lots of young players who get the duty, too, and they are very approachable. My advice is if you have kids get a couple of balls and a couple of sharpie pens before you go down. That way you can send them over to the dugout just as the game ends prepared to get an autograph. The balls come in a plastic display case. I am looking at my Ryan Zimmerman ball on my den shelf as I write this. I also have the Vidro and team ball as well. They go to the grandkids when they are old enough.

Mark-Any word on an accelerated camp for some minor leaguers? I know last year, they started a camp in the afternoons after the big leaugers finished, typically your top prospects not invited to major league camp, a lot of pitchers but some guys like Hood and Burgess, last year if I remember correctly.

Ray Mitten: Nothing new on the Nats leaving Viera, though be assured they are seriously exploring it. I don't know if they can get a deal in place to move somewhere else by spring 2012, but it wouldn't stun me if they do.HarperROY2012: Haven't heard any specifics on the accelerated camp. If I get details, I'll be sure to pass those along. It usually starts in early March.

If you want to see some semblance of the team, it's important to go near the end of ST. While Viera can be nondescript, it's very close to Melbourne and to Cocoa Beach. I've had three fun trips to Nats spring training, mixing in baseball, beach trips and visits to a wild life refuge on the space coast.Oh, the huge manatee….

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/tickets/spring_training.jsp?content=grapefruitThis is a cool map so you can see where the Nats are and all of the geographical locations of the rest of the teams in Florida. With the Dodgers leaving Florida and other teams moving to the Gulf Coast, it has become a long haul to take in Nats baseball on the road other than the teams near Orlando.I almost think the teams in Jupiter like the Cardinals/Marlins are even further removed.Here are your mileages from Viera to the closest stadiums:Osceola County Stadium, Astros, 54 MilesChampion Stadium, Braves, 62 MilesTradition Field, Mets, 75 MilesJoker Marchant Stadium, Tigers, 89 MilesRoger Dean Stadium, Marlin/Cardinal, 113 MilesGeorge M Steinbrenner Field, Yankees, 131 MilesPeople talk about the long drives and since Viera is so close to 95 that I have found the drives using mostly highway to each stadium and 65MPH that even Tampa East for the Yankees is a little over 2 hours—I know Mark Z. says 3 hours so maybe with a lunch break and a fill-up it can be but well worth the trip.Like RayMitten says, the Braves Disney is Disney but still a fun day out there if you haven't been and the right field berm in Jupiter is fun too.Nothing like Spring Training baseball!

Am waiting for a post from JayB complaining that the Lerners are going cheap on cold cuts (salami instead of roast beef) in the club house. And that the hot dogs at the concession stands are Esskay, not Nathan's.

I haven't been in a few years, but I always enjoyed sitting behind the Nats (1st base) dugout. You're able to chat up the coaches as well as the players in the on-deck circle. I got a chuckle out of Zim by yelling, "Go Hokies" at him.Sun screen is a must for those of fair to medium complexion. Even if it doesn't feel hot, if you can burn… you will.Nothing like the access down there, if you can make the trip, I strongly encourage you do so. This is probably our last year in Viera and like Mark points out, you're right on top of the players.

Thank you all very much for your insights in this thread. Really helpful to have great commenters, and while I won't be able to go this year, this certainly whets my appetite and my motivation to earn the privilege of going in future years.

You can get some golf in when they play a night game. I've got an outing planned just down the street from space coast stadium called Duran golf club. I believe the Nats players play a little tourny there on an off day. One of the players had a hole in on there last year I believe? Several courses in the area to choose from though. JTinSC

Sorry but had to spend some time on the road today and haven't been able to catch up on the posts.Two quick things though, JayneB… the early entry is for ST season ticket holders. You get a VIP badge that allows early entry.As for autographs, during the practice only sessions in the 10 – 14 days prior actual games, the players are very approachable before and after actual practice. DO NOT attempt to get any autographs or request any picture posing once practice starts.I'll scroll through the previous posts and see if there are any other questions I can answer.

It has been said before but it warrants being said again, SUNSCREEN. I got one of the worst burns of my life at HSCS. Second, it also warrants being said again, LAYERS. It is winter, after all. I always get a kick out of the folks who show up for a night game in shorts and a tee shirt. It may be 70 at 6 pm but by the end of the game, it can approach the 50s. Dress like you would for a late April game in DC and you will be okay.It is a WONDERFUL place to see baseball. Much better than the Mets, Astros or Braves homes! I go to Viera and always think that I have seen heaven itself.

raymitten — regarding the Disney park: Although I think that there are worse places to watch baseball than the Disney park, I know what you mean. You called it; it's Disney. Everything Disney looks just like you expect it to look, including the ballpark. In that sense it's perfect. Too perfect. [NB: that's my feeling about the park in Baltimore also — reminds me of a model train layout. Everything is faux: the warehouse, the lines of sight, the view of the harbor, the height of the fences and so on.] Of course, I liked the quaint charm and nostalgia of RFK. LOLBut still I think that the Disney park is an okay place to watch baseball. And the proximity to the Astro's park is a plus.

Steve M> – You're right, there's nothing like spring baseball. To get on a plane in the dreary winter, and that afternoon be in a sunny ballpark watching major leaguers work out and play is a tonic for the mind, the body, and the soul. About the distances between parks — in my mind the other things to do pale in comparison to spring baseball, so I say drive all you need to, in order to maximize the baseball you can see. No one says you have to stay in the same hotel every night.Now I've got to 'fess up: I used to think that Viera was among the bottom of the heap of the spring venues. But I'm slowly coming to see the er, charm? of the place. It's come a long way. The first year for the Nats, the park was surrounded by town and housing tract development that wasn't there at all — just in the planning stage. It's coming along now.

"About the distances between parks — in my mind the other things to do pale in comparison to spring baseball, so I say drive all you need to, in order to maximize the baseball you can see. No one says you have to stay in the same hotel every night."But the Nats do. And so do the other teams. Which is reason #1 they will move their ST location ASAP so it's closer to more of the opposing teams. Spring training is not for the convenience of the fans, it's to get the players ready to play the long season. Having to be on a bus for several hours just to play an exhibition game is not conducive to that.

One other point: Last year, for variety, a friend and I went to ST for a week and drove to the Nats' away games, in addition to the home games in Viera.While it was interesting to see the Tigers' park in Lakeland and the Yankees' complex in Tampa, I found it to be a bit of a grind.If this is a vacation week and you're trying to wind down from work, I've found it more relaxing to attend the home games in Viera and spend the "away" days doing other things.There's lots to do, like taking a book to the beach in Melbourne, playing golf, or visiting the Kennedy Space Center or the spectacular Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. At the refuge, I was looking out the car window at a rather large gator. My friend said, "I know that's cool, but you should look at these migrating birds. You won't see them anywhere else."